The many Different Types of Video Games and Their Subgenres
There are many kinds of video games. They are classified based on their objectives or characteristicsrather than the kind of game play.
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Game genres or categories, which can then have subgenres. Many games fall into multiple genres!
It’s true that it’s difficult, but by breaking down the game’s mechanics, we will be able to comprehend the ways publishers and developers categorize their titles.
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Action games, for example, are best if you want instant reward. Do you enjoy solving puzzles and micro-managing resources? Real-time strategy games (RTSs) or role-playing games (RPGs) could be more suitable for you.
But no matter what your interest, there is definitely a game genre that will appeal to your taste or even expose you to the benefits of Esports.
Let’s begin with some background.
The first videogame
Physicist William Higinbotham created the first video game in October 1958. It was the major attraction of the Brookhaven National Laboratory Visitor’s Open House in 1958.
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Higinbotham, who worked at the laboratory, wanted to create an interactive experience for visitors; quoted in an interview years later, Higinbotham wanted to, “… liven up the place. To have a game that can be played by people, and which would convey the message that our scientific endeavors have relevance for society.”
The game, Tennis for Two, was played using an oscilloscope. The tiny screen of five inches displayed thin blue lines which seemed a lot like PONG. Visitors lined up to playthe game, and Higinbotham’s creation became the most-loved exhibit in the laboratory.
The processing power of computers was limited at the time. This meant it was difficult for programmers to develop the kind of games that they wanted. Nowadays, technology has allowed game developers to develop games of any type they like. Over the last few years, game developers have created new game genres and categories to accommodate games that do not fall within traditional game classifications. Here is a complete list that includes all kinds of video games.
Different types of videogames
1. 1.
Action games are exactly thatare designed to allow players to direct and be at the center the action. It is usually comprised of physical obstacles that players have to overcome. Action games include early video gamessuch as Galaga and Donkey Kong.
Action games are simple to learn and to playthey are the most played video games.
Action subgenres
Platformer
The term “platformer” comes by the way in which the player’s character interacts on platforms. There are numerous types of platform games. Super Mario Bros. is perhaps the most well-knownas well as Donkey Kong was one of the first.
Fun FactThe Jumping Flash! on the original Sony PlayStation was the first 3D console platformer game. Up to that pointthe platformers were played “side-on” and the characters played in 2D.
Shooter
Shooters let players use weapons to participate in the action, with the goal usually being to eliminate enemies or opposing players.
The viewpoint of the shooter is used to classify them.
First-person shooters (FPS)can be played from the point of view of the protagonist. Call of Duty, Half-Life and Halo are just a few examples.
Third-person shooters such as Fortnite or Splatoon permit the player to observe the main character from a different perspectivethat is typically slightly above or behind.
Top-down shooterslike Galaga, Space Invaders, and Raiden V: Director’s Cut come with a full overhead view. Top-down shootersare different from third-person shooters. They are built around a set of lives. Players are granted a “game-over” whenever their supply is exhausted.
Fighting
Street Fighter II and Mortal Kombatfighting games focus on combat and, in the majority of cases, hand to hand combat. In many fighting games, there are multiple characters to choose from. Each has a unique fighting style or ability. In the majority of traditional fighting games, players fight for their place at the topof the ladder, facing more and more difficult opponents as they advance.
Fun Fact: Street Fighter II introduced one of the first video games with playable female characters, Chun Li. (The very first playable human female video game character was seen in the 1985 Taito arcade game Typhoon Gal. )
Beat them up
Brawlers can also be described as beat-em up games. Instead of fighting one opponent, they face numerous competitors. Double Dragon was the first beat-em-up, while God of War and Castle Crashers are more modern.
Stealth
Stealth games require skill and precision in solving game challenges, and while other action or combat may aid players in their pursuit of the objectiveas in Dishonoredstealth games typically make players engage in the action covertly. Metal Gear has been a brand name.
Survival
Survival action games are now an entire genre of action gaming. The survival horror game Resident Evil was one of the first (though it was a linear game)as well as more contemporary survival games such as Fortnite feature open-world game environments and give players the ability to create weapons, tools, and shelter to survive as long as possible.
Rhythm
Games that rely on rhythm such as Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero are games with a musical theme which require players to stay on track with the beat of the music or song in the game by hitting a corresponding button on their controller at an exact time to accumulate points.
Fun Fact: PaRappa The Rapper, that was released by the original PlayStation in 1997, is the original rhythm game.
2. Action-Adventure Games
Two key gameplay mechanics are prevalent in action-adventure titles: long quests or obstacles that must to be overcome using a tool or an item, and an action element in which the item(s)can be utilized.
For instance, in The Legend of Zelda, Link must find his way through eight dungeons in order to find the scattered pieces of the Triforce of Wisdom. After he has collected all eight pieces Link can go to the final dungeon and take care of Princess Zelda. Link uses a boomerang order to collect items from far away and then attack his foes.
Action-adventure titles like The Legend of Zelda are more about exploring, solving puzzles and finding treasure, whereas basic combat functions as an added element to the overall game.
Fun fact: The term “action-adventure” is frequently used to describe games that are not compatible with other genres. The Atari 2600 game Adventure (1979) is often regarded as the first action-adventure game.
Survival horror
Resident Evil Survival horror games are made for gamers of a certain age and feature mature themes and subject matters to portray disturbing and grisly locations. This game delivers nail-biting excitementwhich is amplified by an important game mechanic: limited resources such as guns and ammunition.
Fun Fact: Resident Evil is one of the most successful video game franchises in the history of video gamesand has spawned numerous sequels, filmsand books. It also has toys, books and board games. Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition holds the record for the worst video game dialogue.
Metroidvania
The game genre whose name is derived from two games that are the basis for it, Metroid and Castlevania. Metroidvania games are like the basic action-adventure video games, however they aren’t linear. They typically require the player to retrace their steps or stop players from going forward until they discover an item or special tool. It is possible to “upgrade” your character by giving them additional abilities and weapons. However, they will not be able to access certain areas until they fight a bossand this is another aspect of Metroidvania games.
3. Adventure Games
It’s not the story or the contenthowever, the way in which they play gameplay is what makes adventure games. Although technology has made it possible for creators to explore storytelling possibilities in the genre, adventure games still have a lot to do with their text-based roots.
Adventure games often involve players playing with their surroundings as well as other characters in order to solve problems or provide clues to guide them to the next chapter. Adventure games typically do not have traditional videogame elements apart from a few miniature games. This type of game is not popular among gamers of the mainstream.
Fun Fact: Myst has been called the most thrilling adventure game ever. The game was released in 1993in what many believe to be the peak of the genre. It was the highest-selling PC game ever. It also introduced gamers to the world of gaming using CD-ROM.
Text adventures
Early text adventure games were known as “interactive fiction.” As the title suggests, the game is played using text. Players utilize their keyboards to input commands in order to react to a game-programmed story or situation.
Graphic adventures
As computers became more capable of creating graphics for text, games grew as well. For instance, the first graphic adventure games used simple images to support the still text-based adventures. Later, as the mouse evolved into a game controllerthe games started replacing written commands in text, and players began to “point-and-click” to interact with an on-screen item.
Visual novels
Extremely popular and popular in JapanThe majority of visual novels require readers to learn stats or character traits in order to enhance the game. The games often have many endings, which are determined by how the player reacts to particular elements of the plot. Popular topics in visual novels include legal simulations and relationships ( Ace Attorney on the Nintendo DS, as an instance).
Fun fact: Visual novels make up nearly 70percent of all games played on PC in Japan.
Interactive film
The invention of interactive films was made possible by the technology of laserdiscs and CD-ROMs. Interactive movies contain pre-filmed live-action or animated sequences. The player can control the story from a 3rd-person view. They can use an analog joystick left, or press a button and jump away from the path when a rock slams into them.
Fun Fact: Dragon’s Lair is considered to be the most classic example of an interactive movie as well as a video game classic. The animation was created by the former Disney animator Don Bluth. It took the studio of Bluth seven months to complete the game. )
Real-time 3D
The latest innovation in adventure games is real-time 3D. Real-time 3D lets players play in a 3D virtual world, instead of pre-rendered images. Shenmue and Heavy Rain are excellent examples of these types of games.
4. 4.
Role-playing Game, also known as RPGsare the most played-out gaming genre. The majority of them have setting that is medieval or fantasy. This is due mainly to the origins of the genre, which is traced to Dungeons and Dragons as well as other pen and paper-based role-playing games. But, even hardcore RPGers do not discount sci-fi-themed fantasy RPGs such as Mass Effect, Fallout, and Final Fantasy, which have created unique twists on the genre.
Cultural differences have also had a bearing on this genre, as many gamers categorize RPGs as either WRPGs (Western-influenced) or JPRGs (Japanese-influenced). The outcome of RPGs may be affected bythe choices made by gamers, so many RPGs offer alternatives to endings.
Types and types of RPG Games
Action R
Action role-playing is a combination of adventure and action. One of the main characteristics of action RPGs is the fact that combat occurs in real time and depends on a player’s speedand agility in battling the toughest foes. This is different from dependent on high-character traits such as charisma and dexterity.
Fun fact: Diablo can still be played online. 20 years after the game’s debut, Diablo is the longest played online game supported.
MMORPG
Massive multiplayer online role-playing games (or MMORPGs)were born from graphic versions of text-based multiuser dungeons, that were developed in the 1970s.
The MMORPGs host hundreds of players who play with each other in the same setting. Most players share theexact identical or similar goals.
Rouguelikes
The only other genre of game inspired by the name of the game that is the basis for it, Rogue was a 2D computer game, and dungeon-crawler from 1980. It had a text-based interface and random levels. To improve their player stats, players must overcome the challenges and enemies.
Tactical RPG
With their roots in tabletop games, tactical role-playing games are more similar to traditional board games. the turn-based gameplay plays out across an isometric grid. The strategy used by players can be compared to chess. they have a limited amount of resources (armies and weapons, etc.). totake on enemies and take on battles.
RPG Sand
Sandbox, also known as open-world game that allows players to move around freely to find adventure. These immersive experiences are among the most enjoyable available. Because of the huge number of game characters and the situations needed to populate stories and sidequestsGame developers can design virtually life-like virtual worlds.
First-person , party-based RPG
“Blobbers””Blobbers,” as they are known to avid gamers (dungeon Role-Playing Game, also known as Dungeon RPGs)are dungeon roles playing games (dungeon RPGs) in which a player leads a group of adventurers through a first-person viewpoint. Games such as Might and Magic and Bard’s Tale belong to this category as the player is able to move the whole party in a single unit or “blob” within the playing area. Most “blobbers” are turn-based but some games can be played in real time.
5. Simulation Games
Simulation games have the same thing in commonThe reason they are created is to recreate actual or fictional situations and replicate an actual incident or situation.
Simulator for construction and management
SimCity has been the most loved simulation for construction and management ever. SimCity simulates the management of the maintenance and construction of a citywhich includes street planning as well as Zoning.
Life simulation
The Sims , the most popular life simulation game and among the top-selling games ever producedhas been released . SimCity was also designed by Will Wright. In The Sims, the players can take control of every aspect of synthetic life. Simulations are able to alter the genes and the ecosystem of a character. Even the character’s reaction to a certain situation may be under the player’s control.
Virtual pet games such as Nintendogs and Tamagotchi are considered to be part the subgenre of this category as pet-raising simulations. Sims can be described as a type of social simulation. Both subgenres fall under the life simulation category.
They are also referred to as “god-games” because they permit players to take control of the characters and the environment.
Simulation of a vehicle
It’s difficult to rank the most well-known vehicle simulation gamessince sales are equally divided between flight simulations and racing simulations. The goal of vehicle simulations is to simulate the feel of flying in an airplane, racing a car or even driving a tractor around your farm.
In the scenario of flight simulators vehicle simulations could include combat. This includes space flight simulators as well as train simulations.